Injuries to Chris Cusiter, Rory Lawson and Graeme Morrison forced Scotland's management into a major re-think immediately ahead of yesterday's trip to Spain and the national squad's training camp in La Manga.

Injuries to Chris Cusiter, Rory Lawson and Graeme Morrison forced Scotland's management into a major re-think immediately ahead of yesterday's trip to Spain and the national squad's training camp in La Manga.

The broken thumb suffered by Cusiter while playing for Perpignan at the weekend - damage which will need surgery and sideline him for six weeks - and the rib cartilage injury picked up by Lawson - who is seeing a specialist tomorrow - have presented a particular problem.

From arguably the highest quality range of scrum-half options in the European game, the cover for Mike Blair, Scotland's captain, is now stretched. However, uncapped Mark McMillan, Glasgow Warriors' new recruit who has played for Scotland A over the last two years and captained the national Under-21 side, now gets his chance to show what he can do.

The 25-year-old has not yet found his very best form since returning to Scotland in the summer, but is benefiting from extra games and is also working with Andy Nicol, the ex-Scotland captain, under the Winning Scotland Foundation's mentoring programme that will be formally launched in Edinburgh today.

His club-mate Morrison is, like Lawson, now facing a worrying wait to see how long he will be out of action after he limped off during the Warriors' 15-12 win over Leinster on Friday night.

The scorer of the decisive try in Scotland's first ever win in Argentina last June has knee ligament damage and was ruled out of travelling to Spain by James Robson, the team doctor.

He will now undergo further assessment and daily treatment from the Glasgow Warriors medical staff.

With only three specialist centres - Ben Cairns, Nick De Luca and Max Evans - now making the trip, some selectorial imagination will be required at least for training matches.

However, after the WRU took successful court action to force its provinces to release players last week, winger Nikki Walker is set to join the camp tomorrow.